The Olive Business News

In this edition of the Olive Business News

• Latest Article: International Savantes provides Recognition of Olive Oil Tasting Skills
• Full Seville 2011 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savants Programme
• Follow Olive Business on Twitter and join Savantes on Facebook

Latest Article: International Savantes provides Recognition of Olive Oil Tasting Skills

Emerging as one of the main attractions of the full Savantes three-day programme is the session ‘Testing Your Skill as a Taster’.

The one–hour ‘personal evaluation’ takes participants through a series of exercises:

1. Triangle tests which have sets of three oils, two of which are the same and one is different – the trick is to pick which one is different.
2. A rancidity ranking test where the oils need to be placed in order of the degree of rancidity.
3. Intensity ranking where oils are placed in order from the most delicate to the most robust.
4. Fault detection where 8 oils are presented to participants who must describe the fault in each oil.
5. Variety and Region Identification – six classic varietal extra virgin olive oils are presented from regions around the world, such as Arbequina from Catalunya, Taggiasca from Liguria, Picual from Jaen, Koreneiki from Crete, Biancolilla from Sicily, Hojiblanca from Priego de Cordoba etc. The challenge is to identify the region where each of the oils is from.
6. Pick your own extra virgin olive oil. Participants are presented with a series of oils in which the oil they have brought to the programme is included. They need to pick their own oil – more difficult than one thinks!

The total possible score is 30 points and those that achieve 24 out of 30 are presented with the much coveted Savantes status. This status and accompanying certificate is one of the few personal recognitions of one’s ability as a taster. Few have achieved it but many are close.

To recognise progress towards achieving Savantes status, in 2011 we are introducing ‘Associate Savantes’ status for those that achieve 18-23 out of 30 points.

Click here to read the full article!

Full Seville 2011 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savantes Programme

The detailed 2011 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savantes programme is now available on the Savantes website.

The three day olive oil tasting and assessment course will be held in Seville from March 16th to 18th, and will be presented by International Extra Virgin Olive OIl Expert Judy Ridgway, and Savantes founder Simon Field.

An early booking discount is available.

Click here to see the full course programme.

Savantes Member's Area

Participants in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savantes or Table Olive Savantes programmes can now access the member's area of the site, which includes articles, presentation and other useful information.  Please email contact@savantes.com for more information!

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